2007年VOA标准英语-US Farm Bill Ignites Controversy

By Jessi Lang
Washington
06 August 2007
 

The United States Congress is considering a farm bill that is creating debate in the U.S. and around the world. Billions of dollars in agricultural subsides¹ for American farmers are expected  to continue, a program that critics say hurts developing countries. Another proposal involving food aid for poor nations is also raising controversy². As Jessi Lang reports, the plan could have major consequences for African farmers and some of the people they would like to help feed.

It is a small proposal but it could make a big difference to some of the hungriest people in the world. One version of the farm bill currently making its way through the U.S. Congress would allow the United States government to buy some food aid overseas for poor countries, such as those in Africa, rather than shipping³ it all from America.

Erin Tunney

Hunger advocates, like Bread for the World's Erin Tunney, say this plan makes good use of available resources. "It does not make sense to the average American, to the average African -- probably to the average anyone -- that the best way to get food to someone who is hungry a continent away is to buy it in the U.S., process it in the U.S., ship it on a U.S. ship and hopefully a couple months later, it would actually arrive to where it's needed."

The plan would set aside $25 million for a pilot program to test buying food in poor countries for both emergency and long-term aid. Supporters say this will put money in the pockets of African farmers and food in the mouths of people who need it right away.

Michael Johanns

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns says the Bush administration has supported a program to buy food locally in case of a crisis for years. "There are certain instances where people are desperate and dying of hunger where it's truly a crisis situation. If we had the ability to use a portion of our food aid dollars to go out and make the purchase in closer proximity⁴ and help those people, we would save lives. I don't think there is any doubt about it."

Many American farmers oppose the program. They say U.S. tax money should be spent on American farm products.

The $25 million pilot program is part of the U.S. Senate's version of the farm bill, but it is not in the version passed last month by the U.S. House of Representatives. Before the farm bill becomes law, the two chambers⁵ must reconcile their differences. So while the proposal has critical support, it faces huge hurdles⁶ before it can actually become law. 

1 subsides   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的第三人称单数 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• Emotion swells and subsides. 情绪忽高忽低。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His emotion swells and subsides. 他的情绪忽高忽低。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 proximity   

n.接近，邻近

参考例句：

• Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
• Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。

5 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

6 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句